Officers Discover Meth Lab, Arrest Four

(Lexington County) - Lexington drug officers say they discovered a lab used to make methamphetamine, and arrested four people connected to the operation.
Officers with the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team seized a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, 10 grams of methamphetamine, 12 pounds of material that was being manufactured into methamphetamine, $1,000 in cash and two firearms at a home on Ravenwood Drive near Swansea on Sunday.
Officers also arrested two men and two women at the home for manufacturing methamphetamine.
Officers arrested 33-year-old Michelle Marie James of 113 Patricia Drive in Pelion, 36-year-old Richard Grover McLeod of 216 Ravenwood Drive in Swansea, 25-year-old Steve O'Neal Spigner of 2929 Pine Plain Road in Lexington, and 26-year-old Lesley Renee Stone of 3401 Peniel Road in Timmonsville.
James, McLeod, Spigner and Stone all were being held on Monday at the Lexington County jail, awaiting bond hearings.
Officers charged McLeod and Spigner with trafficking in methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine and unlawfully disposing of methamphetamine waste. Officers charged James with manufacturing methamphetamine and illegally possessing prescription medication, while they charged Stone with manufacturing methamphetamine.
At 12:18 p.m. on Sunday, Lexington County Sheriff's Department deputies went to a home at 216 Ravenwood Drive to investigate a report about a suspicious man at the home. As the officers approached the home, they say they heard the rear door open and saw McLeod walk out of the home.
The officers say they detected a strong chemical odor emanating from the home and recognized that a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory might be in operation at the home.
Deputies say McLeod told deputies three additional persons were at the home. Officers say they ordered everyone to leave the home and placed James, Spigner and Stone in investigative detention along with McLeod.
Deputies say they observed many items in plain view that were used to manufacture methamphetamine. They say they also found a glass tube in a pocket in McLeod's clothing that contained methamphetamine.
Officers say they seized 10 grams of methamphetamine, with a street value of about $1,000, at the home as well as 12 pounds of material that was being manufactured into methamphetamine.
The 12 pounds of material would have a street value in excess of $100,000 after it was manufactured into methamphetamine. Officers also seized $1,000 in cash and two firearms.